Israel Planning to Destabilize West Bank: Abbas

Source: PressTV

Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas says Israel is making efforts to ruin stability and security in the occupied West Bank.

Abbas also added that Tel Aviv is trying to sabotage Palestinian achievements.

He also underlined that Israel's military incursions and killing of Palestinians are aimed at drawing a violent response.

Referring to Israel's refusal to heed to international calls over halting its illegal settlement activities, Abbas said saying peace talks should be based on the principle of Tel Aviv's withdrawal from occupied Palestinian land.

The Israeli Housing Ministry has sought bids for the construction of 692 new homes within Jewish settlements in annexed Arab East Jerusalem Al-Quds.

Israel's continued expansion of the settlements is one of the biggest obstacles to the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.

The plans to build about 700 new Jewish homes in areas of the occupied West Bank have even prompted unusually US criticism.

The United States has said it opposes Jewish settlement construction on occupied land and has urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume negotiations, which have been stalled for a year.